Non-slip hair accessory

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a non-slip hair accessory that remains secured in the wearer&#39;s hair in the position the wearer placed it. The hair accessory includes a support, a hair-engaging strip and a means for adjusting the accessory in the wearer&#39;s hair. In one embodiment, the accessory is a flexible headband wherein the support is a fashion strip such as a ribbon or other flexible material, and the hair-engaging strip is attached to, or molded within, the fashion support strip. In another embodiment, the accessory is a hair clip having a decorative support arm, and a hair-engaging strip is attached to, or molded within, the support arm. 
     The hair-engaging strip includes a plurality of parallel rows of uniformly spaced protrusions. In one embodiment, the hair-engaging strip has three rows of protrusions. In the preferred embodiment, the individual protrusions in the two edge rows are spaced an equal first distance from each neighboring protrusion in either edge row. Similarly, the protrusions in the center second row are spaced an equal distance from each neighboring protrusion in its row and offset a uniform second distance from each proximal projection in its neighboring edge rows.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a non-slip hair retaining device. Moreparticularly, the present invention is a non-slip, flexible hairfastener, clip or headband, usable as a fashion and sports accessory.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98

Headbands, hair clips, and similar fashion hair accessories designed todecrease slippage relative to a wearer's hair are well known in the art.Typical hair accessories include barrettes, spring clips, jaw clips, andelastics, as well as firm and flexible headbands. The movement in theindustry has been to add either tapered prongs or layers of rubber andsynthetic products to hair holding devices to increase the frictionbetween the accessory and the wearer's hair.

The earliest known example of the use of a rubber backing to improve thegrip of metal hair accessories is disclosed in the 1921 Great Britainpatent to Catherine Conroy, 161,262, entitled, “Improvement in Slides orBrooches for the Hair.” In Conroy '262, a strip of beaded vulcanizedrubber is secured to the inner surface of the decorative arm of a metalclip. When the arms of the clip are closed, the user's hair is heldbetween the rubber and metal layers.

In the current art, fashion clips with opposed arms for engaging haircommonly include projections such as tapered prongs or teeth on the twoinner surfaces of the clip to secure the hair between the plurality ofprongs. Prongs are disclosed most commonly as shown in United StatesPatent Publication No. 2004/0182411 to Bruce Rogers, et al, entitled“Adjustable Hair Holding Device”. In Rogers '411, the disclosedjaw-style clip includes a mechanism of two mated, toothed arms, theinner surfaces of the arms having three teeth on each tine of each jaw.

A variety of accessory designs wherein elastics are used in combinationwith serrations, teeth, or prongs on opposed surfaces are also wellknown in the art and include U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,699 issued to Heidi C.Horman in 2001 entitled, “Ponytail Holder.” Most pertinent are twopublications to Mary La Fauci, published in 2004 and 2006. A beadedsurface attached to opposing arms of a jaw clip hair accessory isdisclosed in U.S. Publ. No. 2004/0065341 to La Fauci and includes alayer of beaded rubber or plastic on the arms of the clip to decreaseslippage of the clip through the user's hair. In contrast to the beadedlayer of La Fauci '341, a subsequent publication to La Fauci, US2006/0021631, further discloses a non-slip layer having a plurality ofbristle-like projections extending from two opposed surfaces forsecuring the clip in the wearer's hair.

These disclosures, as well as other sports accessories and hair productsfound in the market today, however, do not satisfactorily meet thenon-slip hair accessory needs of consumers of all hair types. Hairfashion consumers continue to seek an accessory for their hair that willremain fixed and secure in the position it was originally placedregardless of the activity, whether it be merely for fashion wear or foruse during high movement activities and sports such as dance, swimming,diving, tumbling, and gymnastics. The present invention meets this need.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a non-slip hair accessory that remains securedwithout movement in the hair from the position the wearer placed it. Inthe preferred embodiment, the accessory is a flexible headband having asupport strip such as a ribbon or other flexible material, ahair-engaging strip attached to, or molded within, the support strip,and a means for securing the headband to the wearer's head.

The hair-engaging strip includes two or more parallel rows of evenlyspaced protrusions of uniform size. In one embodiment, the hair-engagingstrip has three rows of protrusions. In this preferred embodiment, theindividual protrusions in the edge rows, the first and third rows, areuniformly spaced from each neighboring projection in both edge rows, aprimary uniform distance “a”. The protrusions in the center second roware also uniformly spaced from each proximal second row projection theprimary distance “a”, and offset from each proximal neighbor edge rowprojection a secondary uniform distance “b”.

In another embodiment, the hair-engaging strip has two rows ofprotrusions wherein the protrusions in each row are uniformly spaced aprimary distance “a” from each proximal projection in the same row andoffset a secondary distance “b” from each proximal projection in theparallel row.

In yet another embodiment, the hair-engaging strip has four rows ofprotrusions wherein each projection in the first and third rows isuniformly spaced from each proximal projection in the first and thirdrows a primary distance “a”. Similarly, each projection in the secondand fourth rows are uniformly spaced from each proximal projection inthe second and fourth rows the same primary distance “a” from eachother. Furthermore, the protrusions in the first and third row pair arespaced a secondary uniform distance “b” from the proximal protrusions inthe second and fourth row pair.

The hair-engaging strip is manufactured from a thermoplastic orpolyurethane (PU). The thermoplastic preferably has the characteristicsof a hardness level of Shore A 60 to 80. In a preferred embodiment, thematerial is a polyurethane having a hardness level in the range of ShoreA 60 to 80 and a preferred hardness in the range of Shore A 65 to 75.

The means for fastening the headband to the wearer's head optionallyincludes extended lengths of ribbon for tying, a buckle, toggle, hookand eye strip, or other fastening means adaptable for use with theheadband such that the user can secure the headband through the wearer'shair. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fastening meansenables the user to secure the tips of the hair-engaging strip'sprotrusions against the wearer's scalp.

In an alternate embodiment, the hair accessory is a non-slip hair cliphaving an upper arm with an outer decorative surface and a lowercontacting surface having a hair-engaging strip as described abovemolded into the contacting strip or adhered to the lower contactingsurface with a suitable adhesive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and its numerous objects andadvantages will become more apparent to those skilled in the art byreference to the following drawings, in conjunction with theaccompanying specification, in which:

FIG. 1 is a straight perspective view of the hair-engaging strip of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the hair-engaging strip of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the hair-engaging strip of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a curved perspective view of the hair-engaging strip of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a curved perspective view of the non-slip headband of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an enlarged segment of the non-slipheadband of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a top view of an enlarged segment of the non-slip headband ofthe present invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged detail section-view of the area marked in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a hair clip embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is perspective-segment view of an alternative embodiment of thepresent invention having four rows of hair-engaging protrusions; and

FIG. 11 is a top view of the segment of the alternative embodiment ofthe present invention shown in FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a non-slip hair accessory that resists movementor slippage in the wearer's hair, including use during athletics andactivities such as dance, swimming, diving, tumbling, and gymnastics. Asshown in FIG. 5, the hair accessory in one preferred embodiment is aflexible headband 100 including a support such as a fashion ribbon 101,a hair-engaging strip 110, and a means for securing the accessory 100 inthe user's hair. In this embodiment, the securing means shown is a slidefastener 130.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, the flexible hair-engaging strip 10 isshown and described. Hair-engaging strip 10 includes a first end 12,second end 14, bottom surface 16, and top surface 20. The top surface 20includes a base 22 and a plurality of individual protrusions 23,uniformly spaced in parallel outer rows 26, 28, and center row 27, onbass 22. In one embodiment of the invention, an adhesive is applied tobottom surface 16 to secure the hair-engaging strip 10 to a support suchas fashion strip 101 shown in FIG. 5. In another embodiment, the strip10 is unitarily molded within a hair accessory.

The details of the hair-engaging strip are most readily understood withreference to FIGS. 6, 7, and 8. In FIGS. 6 through 8, a segment of hairaccessory 200 is shown including fashion ribbon support 201 having aninner surface 208 proximal to hair-engaging strip 210. Strip 210includes end 212, and top surface 220 having a base 222 and plurality ofindividual protrusions 223. Protrusions 223 each include a base 224,shaft 225, and tip 229.

With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the uniform spacing of individualprotrusions 223 on surface 222 is shown with three parallel rows, 226,227, and 228. Individual protrusions 223 in outer edge rows 226, 228 arespaced an equal distance “a” from each proximal projection 223 in bothits home edge row 226 or 228 and opposite edge row 226 or 228.Similarly, the protrusions 223 in center row 227 are spaced the sameequal distance “a” from each proximal projection in said home center row227. As shown in FIG. 8, protrusions 223 in row 227 are off set fromproximal protrusions 223 of parallel neighboring edge rows 226 and 228 adistance “b”.

Through extensive research, development, and field experimentation, itwas discovered that the relationship between projection size andspacing, or distance there between, significantly affects the amount ofslippage during use. The distance between each projection 223, as wellas the specified distance relationships between proximal protrusions 223within and between rows 226, 227, 228, provides the wearer of the hairaccessory with the most secure, non-slipping hair-engagement. Thisdesign furthermore facilitates combing of the protrusions 223 throughall hair types, aids in optimal placement of tips 229 proximal to theuser's scalp, and enables effortless removal from the wearer's hair whendesired.

It will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in theart that as shown in FIG. 8, each individual projection 223 has adiameter of “a/3”. In addition, distance “b” is defined relative todistance “a” as “a” divided by the square-root of 2. Furthermore, eachindividual protrusion may have a preferred uniform length in the rangeof 1 mm to 5 mm and diameter at the widest point near the base in therange of 50 um to 2 mm.

Referring now to FIGS. 10 to 11, an alternative embodiment of thepresent invention is shown having four rows. Specifically, hairaccessory segment 400 is shown having a hair-engaging strip 410 adheredto ribbon 401. Strip segment 410 includes end 412, and top surface 420having base 422, and individual protrusions 423 comprising base 424,shaft 425, and tip 429. In this embodiment, the protrusions 423 areuniformly spaced as similarly described in FIGS. 6 through 8, with fourparallel rows in pairs 426, 428, and 427, 430.

It will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art, thatthe present invention may be modified using the teachings of thisdisclosure to include uniform spaced protrusions in only two rows on thehair-engaging strip for wearers with fine, thin, or course hair withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

Use of the headband accessory of the present invention will now befurther described with reference to FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, flexibleheadband 100 includes ribbon 101 having ends 102, 104, and surfaces 106,108, hair-engaging strip 110, and fastening means 130. Hair engagingstrip 110 further includes end 114, top surface 120 having individualprotrusions 123 arranged uniformly in rows 126, 127, 128, on surface122. The wearer of the accessory 100, combs or places the individualprotrusions 223 of strip 110 into position within their hair havingdecorative surface 106 facing outward. Accessory 100 is then secured bytightening with a fastening means such as slide 130 as shown.Alternatively, the accessory may be secured by tying the ribbon togethernear ends 102 and 104.

It will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art thatstrip 110 may be unitarily molded within surface 108 of fashion strip101 or affixed together using an adhesive between the bottom surface(not shown) of hair engaging strip 110 and fashion strip surface 108.

Referring now to FIG. 9, an alternative embodiment of the invention,hair clip 300, is shown and described. Hair-engaging clip 300 includestwo arms, 301, 308. In this embodiment, the upper support arm 301includes an elongated body 302 having tip 303. As shown, a decorativefashion layer 304 having ends 306, 307 is folded over support body 302.Hair-engaging strip 310 is shown applied to support body 302 between end307 and tip 303 on fashion layer 304. Strip 310 includes ends 312, 314,top 320 and protrusions 323 on surface 322 of top 320. Individualprotrusions 323 are uniformly spaced in rows 326, 327, 328, as formerlyshown and described for rows 226, 227, and 228 in FIGS. 6-8.Furthermore, protrusions 323 similarly have a base 324, shaft 325, andtip 329, for engagement with the wearer's hair or scalp, depending uponthe thickness of the user's hair, as well as the overall design of cliparms 301 and 308.

With reference to all the drawings, FIGS. 1-11, the hair-engaging strip(10, 110, 210, 310, 410) is preferably manufactured from a flexiblethermoplastic (TPE) or polyurethane (PU) exhibiting the characteristicsof a hardness level in the range of Shore A 60 to 80. The optimalmaterial is a polyurethane having a hardness level in the range of Shore65 to 75. For example, when manufactured within the optimal hardnesslevel range, the individual protrusions 23 of hair-engaging strip 10will comb through the hair of most users and comfortably engage with thescalp.

It should be further understood and appreciated that one skilled in theart may modify some portions of the disclosure and still be practicingwithin the scope and spirit of the present invention.

1. A hair-retaining accessory, comprising: a decorative support strip;and a hair-engaging strip having a first end, a second end, a topsurface between said first and second ends, and a plurality of parallelrows of uniformly spaced elongate protrusions extending perpendicularlyfrom said top surface, wherein each said protrusion in a parallel row isoffset a uniform distance from each said protrusion in each adjacentparallel row.
 2. The hair-retaining accessory of claim 1, wherein thehair-engaging strip comprises two parallel rows of uniformly spacedprotrusions, each said protrusion in a first row offset a uniformdistance from each proximal protrusion in a second row.
 3. Thehair-retaining accessory of claim 1, wherein the hair-engaging stripcomprises three parallel rows of individual elongate protrusionsextending perpendicularly from said top surface, said parallel rowsincluding a first edge row, a second central row, and a third edge row.4. The hair-retaining accessory of claim 3, wherein said individualprotrusions in said first and third edge rows are uniformly spaced afirst distance from each proximal protrusion in said first and thirdedge rows.
 5. The hair-retaining accessory of claim 4, wherein saidindividual protrusions in said second central row are uniformly spacedsaid first distance from each proximal protrusion in the second centralrow and uniformly offset a second distance from each proximal protrusionin said first and third edge rows.
 6. The hair-retaining accessory ofclaim 1, wherein the hair-engaging strip is a thermoplastic elastomerhaving a hardness level in the range of Shore A 60 through
 80. 7. Thehair-retaining accessory of claim 1, wherein the hair-engaging strip isa thermoplastic having a hardness level in the range of Shore A 65through
 75. 8. The hair-retaining accessory of claim 1, wherein thehair-engaging strip is a polyurethane having a hardness level in therange of Shore A 60 through
 80. 9. The hair-retaining accessory of claim8, wherein the hair-engaging strip is a polyurethane having a hardnesslevel in the range of Shore A 65 through
 75. 10. The hair-retainingaccessory of claim 1, wherein the support strip is a flexible headband.11. The hair-retaining accessory of claim 10, wherein the headband is aribbon.
 12. The hair-retaining accessory of claim 1, wherein the supportstrip is an arm of a hair clip.
 13. The hair-retaining accessory ofclaim 1, wherein the hair-engaging strip is unitarily manufactured withsaid support strip.
 14. The hair-retaining accessory of claim 1, whereinthe hair-engaging strip is attached to said support strip with anadhesive.
 15. The hair-retaining accessory of claim 1, wherein saidelongate protrusions are uniformly shaped.
 16. The hair-retainingaccessory of claim 15, wherein each said elongate protrusion has alength and a diameter, said length in the range of 1 mm to 5 mm and saiddiameter in the range of 50 um to 2 mm.
 17. The hair-retaining accessoryof claim 16, wherein each said elongate protrusion has a length of 2 mmand a diameter of 1 mm.